Byculla zoo logs sharp drop in animal deaths

The city’s iconic Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Garden and Zoo — better known as the Byculla Zoo or Victoria Gardens — has long drawn criticism over its ageing infrastructure and questionable animal welfare practices. But new data reveals a notable shift: animal deaths at India’s oldest zoo have significantly declined over the past five years, suggesting that ongoing upgrades and reforms may finally be paying off.

- Shreya Jachak

Figures obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by activist Godfrey Pimenta show that annual animal deaths at the 162-year-old zoo dropped from 70 in 2019-20 to just 25 in 2024-25 — a 64% decrease over five years. Spread across 22 hectares, the zoo currently houses 390 animals spanning 31 species of mammals, birds and reptiles.

A senior civic official attributed the falling mortality rates to a more “stable population” following the introduction of younger animals and gradual phasing out of geriatric residents.

“For decades, we weren't getting new animals. Most of the earlier deaths were due to old age. Now, with new species arriving and breeding improving, we're seeing a stabilised age profile,” the official said.

A costly turnaround